China Travel

Kenya welcomes 1st group of Chinese tourists after pandemic 2023/2/20 source: Print

Kenya on Saturday welcomed the first group of Chinese tourists after three years of pandemic-related hiatus at a ceremony in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi marked with pomp and pageantry.

Kenya's senior officials and executives in the hospitality sector were present to greet the 40 tourists who traveled from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou to Nairobi using a China Southern Airlines flight.

Getting off the plane at the Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, they were welcomed with serenading music as they walked past a group of traditional dancers and drummers.

"Wow, I feel they're so enthusiastic. It was fun. I was surprised today when I got off the plane and saw the performers beat drums. I didn't even know we were on the first flight. I was just dancing with them, feeling a little short of breath now," said Zhang Shuyan, a tourist.

Kenyan travel agencies have fully prepared for the arrival of Chinese tourists after the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced last month it would restore outbound group tours for Chinese citizens on a trial basis from February 6.

"I'm very excited. It is the first travel group to Kenya after three years of suspension and is received by us. I was too excited to fall asleep last night," said Li Dong'e, head of a local travel agency.

John Ololtuaa, principal secretary of Kenya's State Department of Tourism, lauded the Chinese government for choosing Kenya among three African Nations, including Egypt and South Africa, to pilot China's outbound group tours.

"First of all, I want to take this opportunity to specifically thank the Chinese government for lifting this ban on group travel. We are very grateful," he said.

According to Ololtuaa, Kenya will leverage the Chinese market to boost tourist arrivals, hastening the recovery of a sector that contributes about 7 percent to the country's GDP.

At present, China is Kenya's sixth biggest tourism source market internationally, contributing 5.5 percent of total international tourist arrivals in the country during the pre-pandemic period, said Ololtuaa.

Betty Olweny, the sales director at the La Mada Group of Hotels, is looking forward to the peak season with the gradual arrival of Chinese tourists.

She believes the reopening of China will provide a significant boost to the sector and Kenya's economy.


    Photos